Method of erecting a multi-story building and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A multi-story building with concrete floor slabs and supporting columns is formed in a roof down fashion and erected in a progressive lifting process from the foundation. Auxiliary columns in the form of sectional steel casings hold fresh concrete to form the columns, support the building while the concrete columns harden and provide means for attachment to lifting devices that are supported on bearing platforms at the foundation. The load of the permanent concrete structure is transferred to the auxiliary columns through interlocking surfaces between the casings and the concrete columns. The auxiliary columns are pushed up by the lifting devices, that act in a climbing fashion, until the concrete therein hardens to a strength to support the weight of the upper part of the building. The sections of the casings are then peeled off and rotated to positions below for reuse so that the bottom part of the building is always supported by the auxiliary columns acting as an interim support structure. When the building has reached the planned height, the lowermost concrete columns are cast solid with the foundation and the auxiliary equipment is removed for reuse in other buildings.

United States Patent [191 Vanderklaauw Nov. 18, 1975 METHOD OF ERECTING A MULTI-STORY BUILDING AND APPARATUS THEREFOR [75] Inventor: Peter M. Vanderklaauw, Miami, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Research Corporation, New York,

[22] Filed: Feb. 5, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 439,945

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 279,053, Oct. 9, 1972, Pat. No.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,085,316 9/1967 United Kingdom Primary Examiner-Robert F. White Assistant Examiner-Thomas P. Pavelko Attorney, Agent, or FirmHarold L. Stowell [57] ABSTRACT A multi-story building with concrete floor slabs and supporting columns is formed in a roof down fashion and erected in a progressive lifting process from the foundation. Auxiliary columns in the form of sectional steel casings hold fresh concrete to form the columns, support the building while the concrete columns harden and provide means for attachment to lifting devices that are supported on bearing platforms at the foundation. The load of the permanent concrete structure is transferred to the auxiliary columns through interlocking surfaces between the casings and the concrete columns. The auxiliary columns are pushed up by the lifting devices, that act in a climbing fashion, until the concrete therein hardens to a strength to support the weight of the upper part of the building. The sections of the casings are then peeled off and rotated to positions below for reuse so that the bottom part of the building is always supported by the auxiliary columns acting as an interim support structure. When the building has reached the planned height, the lowermost concrete columns are cast solid with the foundation and the auxiliary equipment is removed for reuse in other buildings.

4 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet1of7 3,920,780

F/G.l.

US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 2 of7 3,920,780

all/2A m Iain. H.

US. Patent Nov; 18, 1975 Sheet 3 of7 3,920,780

IIIIIIII Sheet 4 of 7 US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 FIG. 6.

US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet50f7 3,920,780

FIG. 8.

FIG?

METHOD OF ERECTING A MULTI-STORY BUILDING AND APPARATUS THEREFOR This is a division of application Ser. No. 279,053, filed Oct. 9, 1972 and issued Aug. 27, 1974 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,831,902.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field Of The Invention The present invention generally appertains to improvements in the manner of and means for construct ing multi-story buildings and other similar structures and more particularly relates to a new and novel method of and apparatus for building high rise structures in a roof down fashion whereby each floor is formed at ground level and pushed up until the building reaches its planned height.

2. Description Of The Prior Art The construction of high-rise or multi-story concrete structures from the roof downward and involving the jacking of the building in floor-by-floor fashion at or below the ground level is well known in the art. Such construction involves a sequence of operations wherein the roof is cast on a fixed platform at ground level, the roof is pushed up and the floor below is cast on the same platform; then the roof and floor are pushed up and the next floor is constructed. The formation and lifting steps are repeated until the building has reached its projected height.

When the building goes up, material for finishing each space between floors is brought in at ground level and processed on the way up. Exterior walls are built and completed at ground level so that the building is enclosed and protected from weather during construction. The installation of partition walls and mechanical, electrical and plumbing facilities is carried out at low elevations with such work being effected on the completed floors as soon as the concrete framework will accommodate such.

There are many salutary and economic advantages attendant with such construction technique. For example, since all of the production is done in a confined factory-like area at a convenient ground level, considerable savings of time is realized, lower construction costs in relation to an increase in building height are achieved and minimization of the danger of accidents occasioned by working at unprotected heights is attained.

One manner of such jacking method is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,201,502, issued Aug. 17, 1965. In accordance with such patent, upright support members having a height of at least two floors or stories are'fixed on the foundation and circumscribe a columnar area in temporarily retaining form boards for columns to be formed. Beneath the space between the support members and located below the foundation level is a lifting jack which acts directly upon the formed and set columns within the support members to elevate the columns. The formed columns are pushed upwardly by the underlying jacks and slide in the sheath-like support afforded the columns by their support members. Locking wedges cooperate with the columns, including their framework and forms, and cross bars of the upstanding support members to lock the columns in raised positions when the jacks are lowered within the lowermost columnar space afforded by the support members at 2 the foundation level and which space is created for the formation of a succeeding lower column.

Also, a roof down construction method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,239,990, issued Mar. 15, 1966, which method has been commercially practiced in European countries under the tradename Jackblock. In accordance with such method, a platform is fixed at ground level on which concrete is poured for the penthouse or roof. This concrete, after hardening, is pushed up from the platform by underlying jacks and the next floor is poured on the same platform. After it is hardened, the building is pushed up to make room for the next floor and so forth. The pouring of floors and lifting of the set floors isrepeated until the building has reached its planned height. In between the lifts by the jacks, the building is supported by concrete blocks upon which it rests. Thus, after the penthouse or roof is formed and as it is lifted by the jacks, concrete blocks are placed thereunder to support it so that the jacks can be lowered to await the formation of the next floor and the task of lifting the building. After the next floor is lifted by the jacks, it is supported by concrete blocks. The completed floors are raised in a step-by-step fashion in -increments equal to the height of a block so as to permit the blocks to be placed one below the other until the height in between floor levels is reached.

The latter patented method has advantages over. the former patented method in that it is inherently resistant to lateral forcesQThe disadvantage is the means of lifting in small increments requiring intermittent manpower.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The interim function can be extended either way. For

a slow rate of progress the interim structure is low. For a fast rate of progress the said interim structure is high. This makes it possible to build at any speed within reasonable limits, because the rate of progress is naturally also dependent on the curing conditions for the concrete and the type of concrete used. Curing may be accelerated by heating elements in the forms. In any case, interim structure, curing conditions and type of concrete are determinants for the rate of progress and they can be manipulated to accomplish the progress desired. With all conditions being favorable a rate of building erection of one floor per day is achievable.

The interim structure is constituted by auxiliary columns which are in the form of sectional steel casings. They are braced and cross-connected in strategic locations to form a complete secondary structure capable of supporting the entire building during the building process. The casings hold the fresh concrete as the col-- umns are poured, support the building while the concrete columns harden and provide an attachment means for lifting devices that are operatively disposed at the foundation level.

Preferably, the sectional casings are of a length equal to one floor height in their constitution of the auxiliary columns but they may be composed of smaller or larger sections. Such auxiliary columns are lifted by the lifting devices and rise with the building until the concrete contained by them hardens to the point where it is strong enough to support the weight of the building above. At that time, the top sectional casings are stripped or peeled off from the hardened concrete columns. Such removed casings are rotated to positions below at the foundation and fitted with reinforcement and reinstalled. By this rotating or recycling action the bottom part of the building is continuously supported by a rigid steel frame defined by the interim structure.

The auxiliary columns remain in position until they are anywhere from two to six stories high depending upon curing conditions, type of concrete and rate of through such interlocking surfaces to the interim supporting structure and to the foundation.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide lifting devices that are supported at the foundation and driven in such a way that they travel in a hand-over-hand fashion in their elevating attachment to the auxiliary columns.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide novel means for attaching the lifting devices to the auxiliary columns so that the columns can be raised and locked in elevated positions without disturbing the contained poured and setting concrete columns.

A still further important object of the present invention is to provide an improved and efficient concrete structure erection system and arrangement that has definite applicability in the present and future building industry because of the technical, economic and time I l" i u V stalled in each auxiliary column with the reinforcement of an upper preceding concrete containing column being attached to the similar reinforcement in the lower succeeding empty column into which concrete is to be poured.

FIG. 14 is a perspective showing of the reinforcement for the concrete columns that are poured in the auxiliary columns.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings and initially to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 for a general understanding of the system, method and apparatus of the present invention, the reference numeral generally designates a multi-story or high rise building or similar structure which has a basic supporting framework 12 of concrete slabs l4 and columns 16, as shown in FIG. 2. Below the building 10 is a foundation level 18 in the form of a dug-out pit or basement wherein supporting foundations 20 for the columns of the building are initially constructed with one foundation structure being provided for and underlying each column, as shown in FIG. 2.

In the initial stage of construction, the roof unit 22 of the building and its associated underhanging outer walls or other exterior configuration are formed on the fixed platform or slab form 24 which has vertical openings 120, as shown in FIG. 3, to accommodate auxiliary columns 26 which support and lift the building and whereby the permanent concrete columns 16 are formed with the poured concrete on the upper surface of the fixed platform 24 flowing down into the auxiliary columns and over reinforcements housed therein, as

will be more particularly described.

As part of the initial erection stage a shed arrangement 28 may be provided over the foundation pit or basement and built to overhang the sides of the building as the erection proceeds so as to provide weather protection for workmen and also provide sheltered areas for concrete delivery, as at 30, and for materials delivery and storage, as at 32, as shown in FIG. -1.

In the sequence of building operations, the roof 22 is cast on the fixed form or platform 24 at ground level. Then, the roof is elevated by lifting devices 34, that are supported on the foundation structures 20, acting on the first set of auxiliary column sections 26. The floor immediately below the roof is then cast on the same form or platform 24; then the roof and floor are pushed .up, the next floor cast and the operation continues in sequential operations of lift, support and casting.

While the building goes up, materials for finishing are brought in at ground level into the shelter area 32 and processed on the way up. Exterior walls are built and completed at ground level, for example, by being poured simultaneously with the pouring of the floor slabs and the columns or other method, so that the building is enclosed and protected from the weather during construction.

Instead of building walls in masonry or other materials, they can be made inexpensively as a monolithic part of the total structure 10. Stairwaysare designed as extensions to the poured floors so they can be lifted vertically out of fixed forms as the floor is raised. Spandrel beams, balconies and protruding elements are all designed to be a part of the initial system. Windows and doors can be installed at ground level and moved up along with the rest of the floors of the building. Thus,

floors, columns, walls with windows and door openings, and stairs can be done in one operation.

The lifting is done by the lifting devices 34 which operate in a cyclic lift fashion, as will be described in greater detail. The lifting devices 34 are synchronized and controlled to ensure equal lift throughout the building. The lifting devices are driven by drive means that are initiated and controlled by a centrally located console (not shown) manned by one operator.

As can be understood from FIGS. 3 and 5-8, there is a pair of cooperating identical lifting devices 34 and 34a for each column structure. The pair of lifting devices is supported on the raised pedestal 36 of the supporting foundations or footings 20 for each column structure. The lifting devices are disposed in laterally spaced apart and confrontingly cooperative relation in their upstanding placement on the foundations and are positioned on opposite sides of the cavity 38 formed in the foundations or footings when they were initially cast.

The cavity 38 is provided with upstanding dowels 40 for use in effecting the final joint between the lowermost end of the last cast column and the associated foundation. Such end of the column is seated in the cavity and cast solid with the foundation when the building has reached its planned height and further erection thereof is to be permanently discontinued.

Each of the lifting devices 34 and 34a has a steel guide post 42 which has its lower end attached to an upper base plate 44 that is movably and adjustably fastened by fasteners 46 to a base plate 46 which is fixed by bolts 50 onto the upper face of the foundation pedestal 36. The guide posts 42 upstand from the adjustable base plates which are movably spaced from the fixed base plates by a ball bearing 52, as shown in FIG. 9.

Each lifting device 34 or 34a further includes a top cross bar or header bar 54 that is fixed on the upper end of the guide post and is arranged transversely thereof. The top cross bar 54 is formed with vertical bores 59 and 58 on opposite sides of the post 42 and threaded rods 60 and 62 depend from the header bar 54 with their upper ends fitted in the bores. The rods are fixedly attached to the bar 54 by nuts 64 so that they depend from the bar 54 on opposite sides of the post and are held in parallel positions with their lower ends spaced away from the base plates.

A climbing unit 66 is slidably mounted on the post and cooperates with the threaded rods 60 and 62 in pulling itself up along the post 42 in a hand-over-hand fashion. The climbing unit 66 is composed of an upper and lower crosshead 68 and 70 that are in overlying relation and have center sleeves 72 slidably fitted on the guide post 42. The crossheads have pairs of vertically aligned holes 74 through which the threaded rods 60 and 62 freely pass. A pair of take-up nuts 76 and 78 are threaded on the rods 60 and 62 and underlie the upper crosshead 70 while a pair of holding nuts 80 and 82 are threaded on the rods and underlie the lower crosshead 70. The crossheads have their outer ends interconnected by vertically positioned rams 84 which function to raise the crossheads in conjunction with the tightening of the nuts.

In operation, the rams 84 are extended to lift the upper crosshead 68 off the take-up nuts 76 and 78. The take-up nuts are then tightened to engage under the crosshead 68. The rams are then retracted to pull the lower crosshead 70 upwardly off of the holding nuts.

7 The holding nuts 80 and 82 are then tightened to engage under the lower crosshead.

Thus, by alternately extending and retracting the rams 84 and tightening the take-up nuts 76 and 78 and then the holding nuts 80 and 82, the climbing unit 66 pulls itself up along the guide post 42, as can be appreciated from a consideration of FIG. 9. The nuts are driven by hydraulic motors (not shown) initiated and controlled by a centrally located console manned by one operator. lnterconnections between lifting devices and the console ensure that all column structures advance one increment before the next is started to guarantee equal lift throughout the building.

As shown in FIG. 2, brace means 86 is secured between the lifting devices of adjoining column structures and such brace means also supports the fixed platform 24. In this way, the lifting devices are connected to one another and braced for stability.

The climbing units 66 on each lifting device 34 and 34a are interconnected by a pair of load transfer beams 88 which are attached to the auxiliary columns 26 as will be described. The load transfer beams have opposing ends 90 which are formed on their undersides with sockets (not shown) that receive the rods 92 upstanding from the upper crosshead 68 above the rams whereby the transfer beams are located on the ends of the climbing units in a manner to transversely span the lifting devices 34 and 34a at opposite sides thereof. The outer ends 90 of the load transfer beams 88 also have upstanding threaded lugs 94 which are adapted to fit in vertical holes 96 formed in the outer ends of the header or top cross bars 54 for each lifting device 34 and 34a and to receive locking nuts 98 so as to lock an auxiliary column in an elevated position, as shown in FIG. 5.

Each of the auxiliary columns 26, as shown in detail in FIG. 4, is composed of steel casings 100 made in sections and of a desirable length that is equal to one floor height. Each of the casings 100 has opposing corrugated side plates 102 and 104 which are connected together in fixedly spaced apart parallel relation by plain side plates 106 and 108. The four side plates are releasably fastened together in a substantially squarre columnar shape by the rods 110. The plates 102 and 104 have side edge bars 112 which have substantially square upper ends 114 provided with vertical holes 125.

A head form 116 is adapted to be disposed at the upper end of each of the auxiliary columns just prior to pouring of the concrete. The flat plate sections 118 of the head form are adapted to span the openings 120 in the fixed platform 24 and to have their outer edges resting on the platform portions bounding the openings 120 so as to prevent concrete, as it is poured on the platform 24 to form the floor slab and the concrete columns, from seeping down around the outsides of the casings of the auxiliary columns 26 in the space S, FIG. 4, not covered by side plates 102, 104, 106, and 108. Space S is greater than one concrete floor thickness. The depending tubular section 122 (not indicated) of the head form is of an approximate square cross-sectional shape and is adapted to extend into the upper ends of the casings 100 in a fashion so as to complement the sealing action of the plate sections 118.

The side bars 112 depend from the plain 102 and 104 and define legs 130 for the casing. T e legs have outer faces 132 at their lower ends to wlmiin the inner surfaces of the outer ends 90 of the transfer beams are fastened by bolts 134. The free lower ends of the legs 130 of an upper auxiliary column secton seat on the flat upper ends 114 of a lower succeeding auxiliary column section and have vertical threaded bores (not shown) which align with the vertical apertures in the upper ends for the reception of fastening bolts 126. Shims 128 are fitted between the lower and upper ends of the columns and are held in place by the bolts which are worked by tools placed through side openings 127 in the upper end portions of the edge bars 112. The inner comers of the plate sections 118 are cut out, as at 119 so as to enable the corners to fit tightly around the side edge bars of the auxiliary columns.

The lower end of the casing 100 carries a closure pan 136 of substantially pyramidal shape. The pan 136 serves to close off the lower end of the casing during the pouring of the concrete and the shape thereof results in the formation of the concrete columns with a lower end 138, as shown in FIG. 10, that has upwardly sloped walls 140 serving to ensure good contact with the new concrete during a pouring of a lower succeeding concrete column.

With regard to FIGS. 4 and 10, it can be seen that the corrugated plates 102 and 104 have a vertical series of horizontally disposed, parallel and inwardly directed teeth or ridges 142 which are spaced apart by grooves 144 into which the poured concrete flows. Thus, the inner surfaces of the plates 102 and 104 and the opposing formed walls 146 of the setting concrete columns have an interlocking engagement. It is due to such interlocking engagement that the load of the permanent concrete structure is transferred to the interim structure and to the foundations.

As shown in FIG. 10, the hardened or cured concrete columns C, from which the casing plates have been stripped for recycling use at the foundation, are supported by the setting concrete columns C, which are still encased in the casings 100. The columns C, are supported through their casings 100 by the auxiliary columns 26 containing the freshly poured concrete columns C The transfer beam 88 through the lifting devices (not shown) passes the load (indicated by the arrows) onto the foundation 20.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a reinforcement cage 148 formed of vertical rods 150 held in rectangular formation by encircling stirrups 152 is provided for insertion within a casing 100 prior to the pouring of concrete therein so as to provide a reinforcement for the concrete columns. The reinforcement cage is inserted into an auxiliary column section 26 prior to installation. When the column section 26 is installed, the upper ends 150a of the reinforcement cage are attached to the lower hanging ends 150b of a reinforcement cage in an immediately preceding column formation, as shown in FIG. 13. Cross rods 154 are formed with angular outer ends 156 that are adapted to seat on the upper faces or shoulders 158 of the teeth or ridges 142 on the plates 102 and 104 of the casing 100, as shown in FIG. 13.

In operation, the auxiliary column sections 26 are positioned below the platform 24, before the roof is poured on the platform. The auxiliary columns are attached to the lifting devices 34 by the load transfer beams 88 and would be in a position generally as shown in FIG. 3. The auxiliary columns contain the reinforcement cages 148 and are disposed below the openings 120 with the head forms 118 resting on the platform in place over the auxiliary columns. The lower ends of the auxiliary columns are closed off by the pans 136. Concrete poured on the platform flows into the auxiliary nism to climb hand-over-hand on their guide posts 42 and raise the roof and the poured concrete columns which are supported by the casings 100 constituting the auxiliary columns 26. The lifting action can be appreciated from a consideration of FIGS. -8.

When the lift is completed, the columns are in the fully elevated position of FIG. 5 and the load transfer beams 88 are locked on the stationary top bars 54 of the lifting devices 34 by ,nuts 98 fastened on the threaded lugs 94 that extend through the openings 96 in the top bars. The climbing units 66 then lower themselves on the guide posts 42 in a reverse action to their climbing action until they reach their lowermost positions. At such point and in such positions, new auxiliary column sections 26 are attached by load transfer beams to the climbing units.

This action is repeated and the erection of the building progresses with the interim structure that is composed of auxiliary columns and bracing where necessary supporting the entire building. As the building rises and the concrete of the permanent structure hardens, the auxiliary columns 26 are removed from the top down, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the auxiliary columns 26 rise with the building until the concrete contained by them is strong enough to support the weight of the building above. At that time, the casing plates 102, 104, 106 and 108 are unlocked by removing the tie rods 110 and the plates are peeled or stripped off from the concrete columns, as shown in FIG. 2. The plates 106 and 108 easily pull away from the concrete columns. The plates 102 and 104 of the casing 100 are removed by tilting them away from the permanent concrete columns causing a zipper effect and transferring the load slowly to the bottom and into the next column section. A hydraulic tool or screw device is used to separate the opposing corrugated plates 102 and 104 at an equal rate.

The removed plates 102, 104, 106 and 108 that comprise the casings 100 of the auxiliary columns 26 are rotated to a position at the foundation level where they are reassembled, fitted with a reinforcement cage and reinstalled in attachment to the lifting devices for re- ,use. By this rotating action, the casings 100 are continuously being recycled. And the bottom part of the buil- ,iding is continuously supported by the rigid steel frame or interim structure. The auxiliary columns may extend '100 without the bottom pans 136 so that the concrete columns are cast within the cavities 38 in the foundations or footings 20. If desired, the building can be left in a usable condition wherein it is supported by lowermost auxiliary columns defining a base support structure and without being permanently attached to the foundations. After occupying and attendant use for any given period of time, further construction can be undertaken and the height of the building can be increased.

In the embodiment of FIGS 11 and 12, lifting means is shown for use with lighter loads. Such lifting means includes a pair of identical lifting devices 160 that are mounted on the pedestal ,36a of the foundations or 5 footings of the building. Each of the lifting devices comprises a, base platev 162 fixed on the'upper face of the pedestal and on which a mounting plate 164 is secured by fasteners 166 with shims 168 being interposed therebetween. Each of the pair of mounting plates 164, 0 only one side of which is illustrated, supports a pair of upstanding guide posts 170 and 172 on which a climbing unit 174 is slidingly disposed. The upper ends of the guide posts are joined together by a top cross bar 176.

An elongated screw rod 178, one for each pair, is secured between. the supporting base plate 164 and the top crossbar 176 and is located substantially centrally between the guide posts l70 and 172 and is disposed parallel therewith. Each climbing unit 174 comprises a climbing cross bar 180 which has a central vertical bore 182 through which the screw rod 178 freely passes. The climbing cross bar 180 also has vertical openings 184 and 186 that freely receive the guide posts 170 and 172. The guide posts and openings are preferably of a non-circular crosssectional shape. The climbing cross bar 180 is provided at its center portion with a drive unit 188'that comprises a prime mover 200 that operates a pawl type actuator 202 which is drivingly engaged with a ratchet unit 204 carried by a traveling nut 206 which is threadingly engaged on the screw rod 178.

The prime mover 200 may be a hydraulic, pneumatic or electric motor.

The climbing bars 180 on each of the lifting devices are providedon the upper faces of their, outer end portions with upstanding lugs 208 that fit in sockets (not shown) provided on the underface of the end portions of load-tranfer beams like beams 88, FIGS. 3 and 4.

The load tranfer beams are, thusly, located on the climbing units and are attached to the lower ends of the auxiliary columns 26 by bolts. The auxiliary columns are the same in purpose, structure and assembled relation and operation as the auxiliary columns 26, shown in FIG. 4.

While several forms of lifting devices have been shown, other forms could be substituted depending on the lifting requirements of the particular building.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of erecting from ground level upward a multi-story concrete building having vertically spaced superposed concrete floor slabs formed in individual successive fashion on a horizontal platform disposed at the foundation level with the platform having openings for the flow of concrete to form load bearing concrete columns between the floor slabs and with foundation footings being provided on the ground below the openings comprising the steps of:

. a. vertically positioning a first set of hollow load carrying auxiliary columns above the foundation footings in vertical alignment with the openings in the platform with said columns defining generally coextensive concrete retaining walls;

b. establishing on an opposing pair of said concrete retaining walls means for forming interlocking facial contact between the retaining walls and concrete to be poured therein;

0. pouring concrete over the platform and into the concrete retaining walls established by virture of each of the auxiliary load bearing columns to monolithically form a floor slab on the platform 1 1 and a first set of depending supporting concrete columns in the auxiliary columns;

d. allowing the floor slab and its supporting columns to harden sufficiently to the point that the floor slab can be raised off the platform;

e. applying lifting pressure from the foundation footings directly to the auxiliary columns and indirectly to the concrete columns through interlocking facial contact between the said retaining walls and the concrete columns and therethrough to the floor slab and raising the floor slab a full floor level height above the platform;

f. supporting the raised auxiliary columns with their lower ends adjacent the platform while releasing the lifting pressure;

g. inserting under and connecting to the raised and supported first set of auxiliary columns a second set of auxiliary columns with coextensive concrete retaining walls with a space equal to the thickness of a floor slab therebetween;

h. establishing on an opposing pair of said concrete retaining walls means for forming interlocking facial contact between the retaining walls and concrete to be poured therein;

i. pouring concrete over the platform and into the second set of retaining walls to form a successive lower floor slab interconnected by the first set of formed concrete columns with the formed preceding floor slab and to form a second set of supporting depending concrete columns in the second set of auxiliary columns;

j. allowing such successive floor slab and its concrete columns to harden sufficiently to the point that the successive floor slab can be raised off the platform;

k. applying lifting pressure directly to the second set of auxiliary columns and to the concrete columns indirectly through interlocking facial contact between such concrete retaining walls and the second set of concrete columns and therethrough to the successive floor slab and through the connection between the second set of auxiliary columns and the first set of auxiliary columns to the first set of concrete columns and the supported preceding floor slab to raise the successive floor slab a full floor level above the platform while raising the preceding floor slab a height of a full floor level;

1. continuing to pour, harden, lift and support subsequent floor slabs and concrete columns;

m. stripping the concrete retaining walls of the auxiliary columns from upper concrete columns that have hardened to a strength to support the first formed upper part of the building; and

n. rotating such concrete retaining walls of the auxiliary columns to positions at ground level for placement under the platform so that previously used auxiliary columns with the concrete retaining walls are recycled for use as further sets of auxiliary columns with concrete retaining walls in the erection of the building.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary columns with associated coextensive concrete retaining walls are in sections that are peeled outwardly and upwardly from the concrete columns during the stripping thereof from such hardened concrete columns.

3. The invention of claim 1 including the step of providing sealing means between the platform and the underlying auxiliary columns as the concrete is poured on the platform so as to prevent the flow of concrete externally of the auxiliary columns and their associated concrete retaining walls.

4. The invention of claim 1 including providing a foundation footing having a cavity for the cast reception of the final concrete column when the projected height of the building is reached. 

1. CONTINUING TO POUR, HARDEN, LIFT AND SUPPORT SUBSEQUENT FLOOR SLABS AND CONCRETE COLUMNS; M.STRIPPING THE CONCRETE RETAINING WALLS OF THE AUXILIARY COLUMNS FROM UPPER CONCRETE COLUMNS THAT HAVE HARDENDED TO A STRENGTH TO SUPPORT THE FIRST FORMED UPPER PART OF THE BUILDING; AND N. ROTATING SUCH CONCRETE RETAINING WALLS OF THE AUXILIARY COLUMNS TO POSITIONS AT GROUND LEVEL FOR PLACEMENT UNDER THE PLATFORM SO THAT PREVIOUSLY USED AUXILIARY COLUMN WITH THE CONCRETE RETAINING WALLS ARE RECYCLED FOR USE AS FURTHER SETS OF AUXILIARY COLUMNS WITH CONCRETE RETAINING WALLS IN THE ERECTION OF THE BUILDING.
 1. A METHOD OF ERECTING FROM GROUND LEVEL UPWARD A MULTISTORY CONCRETE BUILDING HAVING VERTICALLY SPACED SUPERPOSED CONCRETE FLOOR SLABS FORMED IN INDIVIDUAL SUCCESSIVE FASHION ON A HORIZNTAL PLATFORM DISPOSED AT THE FOUNDATION LEVEL WITH THE PLATFORM HAVING OPENINGS FOR THE FLOW OF CONCRETE TO FORM LOAD BEARING CONCRETE COLUMNS BETWEEN THE FLOOR SLABS AND WITH FOUNDATION FOOTINGS BEING PROVIDED ON THE GROUND BELOW THE OPENING COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. VERTICALLY POSITIONING A FIRST SET OF HOLLOW LOAD CARRYING AUXILIARY COLUMNS ABOVE THE FOUNDATION FOOTINGS IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE OPENINGS IN THE PLATFORM WITH SAID COLUMNS DEFINING GENERALLY COEXTENSIVE CONCRETE RETAINING WALLS; B. ESTABLISHING ON AN OPPOSING PAIR OF SAID CONCRETE RETAINING WALLS MEANS FOR FORMING INTERLOCKING FACIAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE RETAINING WALLS AND CONCRETE TO BE POURED THEREIN; C. POURING CONCRETE OVER THE PLATFORM AND INTO THE CONCRETE RETAINING WALLS ESTABLISHED BY VITURE OF EACH OF THE AUXILIARY LOAD BEARING COLUMNS TO MONOLITHICALLY FORM A FLOOR SLAB ON THE PLATFORM AND A FIRST SET OF DEPENDING SUPPORTING CONCRETE COLUMNS IN THE AUXILIARY COLUMNS; D. ALLOWING THE FLOOR SLAB AND ITS SUPPORTING COLUMNS TO HARDEN SUFFICIENTLY TO THE POINT THAT THE FLOOR SLAB CAN BE RAISED OFF THE PLATFORM. E. APPLYING LIFTING PRESSURE FROM THE FOUNDATION FOOTINGS DIRECTLY TO THE AUXILIARY COLUMNS AND DIRECTLY TO THE CONCRETE COLUMNS THROUGH INTERLOCKING FACIAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE SAID RETAINING WALLS AND THE CONCRETE COLUMS AND THERETHROUGH TO THE FLOOR SLAB AND RAISING THE FLOOR SLAB A FULL FLOOR LEVEL HEIGHT ABOVE THE PLATFORM: F. SUPPORTING THE RAISED AUXILIARY COLUMNS WITH THEIR LOWER ENDS ADJACENT THE PLATFORM WHILE RELEASING THE LIFTING PRESSURE; G. INSERTING UNDER AND CONNECTING TO THE RAISED AND SUPPORTED FIRST SET OF AUXILIARY COLUMNS A SECOND SET OF AUXILIARY COLUMNS WITH COEXTENSIVE CONCRETE RETAINING WALLS WITH A SPACE EQUAL TO THE THICKNESS OF A FLOOR SLAB THEREBETWEEN; H. ESTABLISHING ON AN OPPOSING PAIR OF SAID CONCRETE RETAINING WALLS MEANS FOR FORMING INTERLOCKING FACIAL CONTACTBETWEEN THE RETAINING WALLS AND CONCRETE TO BE POURED THEREIN; BI. POURING CONCRETE OVER THE PLATFORM AND INTO THE SECOND SET OF RETAINING WALLS TO FORM A SUCCESSIVE LOWER FLOOR SLAB INTERCONNECTED BY THE FIRST SET OF FORMED CONCRETE COLUMNS WITH THE FORMED PRECEDING FLOOR SLAB AND TO FORM A SECONDS SET OF SUPPORTING DEPENDING CONCRETE COLUMNS IN THE SECOND SET OF AUXILIARY COLUMNS; J. ALLOWING SUCH SUCCESSIVE FLOOR SLAB AND ITS CONCRETE SOLUMNS TO HARDEN SUFFICIENTLY TO THE POINT THAT THE SUCCESSIVE FLOOR SLAB CAN BE RAISED OFF THE PLATFORM; K. APPLYING LIFTING PRESSURE DIRECTLY TO THE SECOND SET OF AUXILIARY COLUMNS AND TO THE CONCRETE COLUMNS INDIRECTLY THROUGH INTERLOCKING FACIAL CONTACT BETWEEN SUCH CONCRETE RETAINING WALLS AND THE SECOND SET OF CONCRETE COLUMNS AND THERETHROUGH TO THE SUCCESSIVE FLOOR SLAB AND THROUGH THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SECOND SET OF AUXILIARY COLUMNS AND THE FIRST SET OF AUXILIARY COLUMNS TO THE FIRST SET OF CONCRETE COLUMNS AND THE SUPPORTED PRECEDING FLOOR SLAB TO RAISE THE SUCCESSIVE FLOOR SLAB A FULL FLOOR LEVEL ABOVE THE PLATFORM WHILE RAISING THE PRECEDING FLOOR SLAB A HEIGHT OF A FULL FLOOR LEVEL;
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary columns with associated coextensive concrete retaining walls are in sections that are peeled outwardly and upwardly from the concrete columns during the stripping thereof from such hardened concrete columns.
 3. The invention of claim 1 including the step of providing sealing means between the platform and the underlying auxiliary columns as the concrete is poured on the platform so as to prevent the flow of concrete externally of the auxiliary columns and their associated concrete retaining walls.
 4. The invention of claim 1 including providing a foundation footing having a cavity for the cast reception of the final concrete column when the projected height of the building is reached. 